News in brief: Eagan, Burnsville selling trees at bargain prices

Burnsville and Eagan are both holding tree sales this month for residents.

Burnsville will sell hundreds of bare-root trees, shrubs and plants at its annual plant sale from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. April 27 at the city's maintenance facility at 75 Civic Center Pkwy. Prices will range from $25 to $50. Trees are locally grown and vary in size from 5 to 12 feet.

The sale is open to Burnsville residents only. Households will be limited to two trees, 54 plants and 30 shrubs. Prepare planting sites before the sale and plan to plant the trees and shrubs immediately.

Eagan, meanwhile, is holding its tree sale online. Orders are being taken at www.cityofeagan.com/index.php/eagan-tree-sale, and ordering will be open until noon April 19. Eight types of trees are available at $25 per tree. Residents can order up to two trees per household.

Residents must pick up their trees Saturday, May 4.

DAKOTA COUNTY

Safe sleep workshops for day-care providers

Dakota County has scheduled a series of free training sessions to remind home day-care providers to follow safe sleeping practices for infants.

The training sessions will run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dates and locations are: April 29, room L139 at the Dakota County Western Service Center, 14955 Galaxie Av., Apple Valley; May 2, Dakota County Technical College, 1300 E. 145th St., Rosemount; May 6, rooms 110A & B at the Dakota County Northern Service Center, 1 W. Mendota Road, West St. Paul; and May 9, room L139 at the Dakota County Western Service Center.

Registration is not necessary. For more information, call Joan Granger-Kopesky at 952-891-7458.

Hastings

City administrator finalists named

Hastings City Council has named four finalists for consideration as the next city administrator. The candidates will be interviewed April 19. The final candidate will be announced May 6.

Those up for consideration are Melinda Coleman, Charles Grawe, Catherine Green, and Melanie Mesko Lee.

All candidates hold a master's degree in public administration or a similar field and have more than 10 years of experience in municipal government management.

The position became vacant in March when Dave Osberg resigned to take a city administrator position in Eagan, for which he was sworn in this week.

ROSEMOUNT

New fire chief named

Rosemount's new fire chief may help police and fire departments work together more closely — he's a sergeant of investigations with the Dakota County Sheriff's Office.

The Rosemount City Council on Tuesday appointed Richard Schroeder as the new fire chief, effective immediately.

Schroeder is a 15-year veteran of the fire department, most recently serving as captain. He replaces retiring fire chief Scott Aker, who will continue to serve through the end of the month. Aker worked for the fire department for 31 years.

The council has set a farewell reception for Aker for 2-4 p.m. April 26 at City Hall.

Schroeder, in addition to his police and fire work, operated a lawn care business for 15 years.

INVER GROVE HEIGHTS

Tentative agreement on City Hall mediation

Disputes about the construction and remodeling of Inver Grove Heights City Hall are still in mediation between the city, architects and the construction company.

A tentative agreement will be presented to the City Council on Monday. The details are not yet public and have been discussed in closed sessions with attorneys.

In June 2009, the city broke ground on a new public safety building and renovation of City Hall. The general contractor, Shaw Lundquist (SLA), and architect, BKV Group, completed the work in late 2011.

"A few deficiencies were discovered," said Jenelle Teppen, assistant city administrator. The three parties went over the terms of the contracts to resolve disputes through a mediator, a process that's been going on for a few months.

BURNSVILLE

Sign up now for garden plots

Woodhill Urban Agriculture will open community garden registration to the public from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday.

The cost for a 20-by-15-foot plot is $40 for the season.

Woodhill, a research and education center, is at 1512 Woodhill Road. It may be reached at info@woodhillurbanag.org or 612-568-6580.

The community garden contains 99 plots for local Kenyan, Russian and Hispanic immigrants. A large hill section was swaled and bermed for use as a field crop area and perennial fruit orchard.

Hydrant flushing may lead to water change

Burnsville will begin flushing city-owned fire hydrants on April 15 and plans to be finished by May 24.

Flushing will continue from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and may continue on weekends.

The hydrants are flushed to keep them working properly and to remove mineral deposits that may accumulate in water mains.

The change in water-flow patterns from hydrant flushing may stir up mineral deposits, discolor water, change water pressure and increase chlorine odor.

Iron color in the water is not a health issue but it may stain clothes. Residents are encouraged to check their water before doing laundry. Discoloration can be corrected by opening all cold water faucets and allowing them to run until the water runs clear.

For more information and general hydrant-flushing questions, contact the Burnsville Maintenance Facility at 952-895-4550 or visit www.burnsville.org/hydrants.

ROSEMOUNT

Tech college president to retire

Ron Thomas, president of Dakota County Technical College for the past 13 years, is set to retire July 1.

Thomas announced his plan last week. He has worked in education for almost 50 years.

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Chancellor Steven Rosenstone met with the college community April 3 to get input on the next step in the college's leadership.

SOUTH METRO

Extra produce? Donate it

Back yard gardeners who want to donate extra produce may now obtain a new publication about how food shelves work.

The 44-page online book is designed to help increase access to healthy food for those in need by connecting gardeners and food shelves.